Dumebi Kachikwu Vows Legal Action, Rejects Coalition with Atiku, El-Rufai, Amaechi
The internal crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a dramatic turn as the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, has vowed to challenge the recent formation of an opposition coalition led by prominent political figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.
Kachikwu, speaking on Wednesday during an interview with Arise Television, declared that he would not work with the newly announced coalition, which seeks to use the ADC as a platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He described the move as an illegitimate takeover of the party, orchestrated by political elites he accused of lacking credibility and relevance.
“I cannot in good conscience work with people like Atiku, Amaechi, or El-Rufai. These are men who have had their time in Nigerian politics, and what have we gained from their leadership? We cannot continue recycling the same old names and expect different results,” Kachikwu said.
The coalition was unveiled earlier this week with former Senate President David Mark named as interim chairman. It also includes Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and other key opposition figures, with a stated aim of forming a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). However, Kachikwu dismissed the group as a “political dramedy,” alleging that party organs were not consulted and that the process was hijacked by external interests.
“This is not unity, it’s hijack. You cannot claim to be forming a coalition when you haven’t consulted the organs of the party or engaged the grassroots. What they’ve done is to forcefully take over the ADC and use it as a platform for their ambitions. I will not be a part of this fraud, and I will seek legal redress,” he said.
He further questioned the coalition’s ideological foundation, asserting that it was built solely on opposition to President Tinubu rather than on a shared vision for national development.
“A group built on shared hatred, rather than shared vision, is bound to collapse. Nigerians deserve better than a gathering of yesterday’s men looking for a new platform to continue their politics of self-interest,” Kachikwu stated.
Kachikwu’s rejection of the coalition adds to the growing controversy surrounding the future of the ADC and casts doubt on the viability of the opposition’s new alliance. His insistence on pursuing legal action could stall the coalition’s momentum and further deepen divisions within Nigeria’s opposition ranks as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
